GALLBLADDER DYSMOTILITY

I AM A FEMALE AND 47 YRS.OLD AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PAIN ON & OFF FOR 5 YEARS OR SO.  IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST 2 YRS. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TESTS AND THE HIDA SCAN CAME BACK WITH A 22% EJECTION FRACTION. THE DR. SAID I COULD HAVE MY GALLBLADDER OUT, BUT IT MIGHT NOT HELP. HE WANTED ME TO TRY AN ANTISPASMOTIC FIRST. I FELT SOME RELIEF FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT NOW IT IS BOTHERING ME AGAIN. MY STOMACH GNAWS & GRINDS ALL THE TIME, LIKE I AM STARVING TO DEATH. I DO HAVE ACID REFLUX, AND I TAKE PREVACID, BUT IT DOESN'T HELP THIS PAIN. FRUITS AND CERTAIN OTHER FOODS SEEM TO BOTHER ME, BUT I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF IT IS THE FOODS OR JUST MY GALLBLADDER.  I USUALLY EAT LOW FAT FOODS, AND EAT QUITE HEALTHY, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I ALSO FIND THAT I CAN'T BURP OR PASS GAS, BUT WHEN I DO IT SEEMS TO HELP SOME OF THE TIME. GAS PILLS USUALLY MAKE MY STOMACH WORSE, BUT I USED TO TAKE THEM AND THEY WORKED BEFORE. MY PAIN IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY UPPER STOMACH AND A BIT TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I STARTED THE ANTISPASMOTICS I STARTED BURPING & FEELING BETTER, BUT NOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH IBS AND USUALLY GET CONSTIPATED WHICH I USE FIBER FOR. I HAVE HAD THIS FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. SHOULD I GET MY GALLBLADDER OUT OR NOT? I AM SO SICK OF FEELING TERRIBLE 90% OF THE TIME. I ALSO HAVE GAINED 10 LBS FROM THIS, AND STOPPED WEIGHT TRAINING BECAUSE I WOULD GET WORSE EVERY TIME I LIFTED WEIGHTS. WHEN I GET THIS PAIN I ALSO GET COLD VERY LISTLESS, NO ENERGY. HELP ME IF YOU CAN!

[fane]

I recently posted a similar problem on both forums. I'm a 28 years old male and I had problems with my gallbladder since 13. I'm schedule for surgery in 2 weeks. I believe that it's the best thing to do in our situation. My ejection fraction was 12%. I'm a very health and strong individual otherwise. I eat healthier than 99% of the people out there, but still this problem doesn't seam to go away nor ameliorate. It sounds like you might have some other problems in addition to a disfunctional gallbladder. If I would be you I would make sure to cure all other problems by taking strong digestive enzymes and by controling your stress levels. You know that the digestive system shuts down when we get stressed. For me the best things were lypo enzymes which help a lot with the digestion of fats but not only. Try to take them for a few weeks and you'll see the difference. Less burping, gas and indigestion. Bottom line, you can aleviate some simptoms but on the long run you'll be better off if you take it out. I know some people might object to that, however, that is in the case of those people with a working gallbladder containing stones. The problem with us is that our gallbladders partially block the bile coming from the liver. This can cause many nasty symptoms and in some cases even cronical damage to the liver. The truth is that doctors don't really fully understand how the gallbladder affects the liver. My gastroenterologyst didn't even know what a low gallbladder ejection rate means. In Europe they didn't even care for that. No doctor in Europe will remove a disfunctional gallbladder. I came from there 5 years ago and most of my doctors told me to drink teas and take bile supplements. Thank God the doctors are a little smarter over here. The way I see it we have an organ which is almost dead and that's why we should remove it. Until they come up with better method like growing a new gallbladder through the newer technology we only have one thing that works. Look of it this way. Right now you feel bad probably 80% of the time. The surgery claims to relieve symptoms in 85% of people. That's a much better probability. I'll keep you posted with after surgery improvements. Good luck!

[DOBER]

Thanks for your imput. I am still going back n forth with the idea of having it removed. Are your symptoms at all like mine? Also let me know how you feel after surgury? I think I am going to call my Dr. today to make an appt. Good luck on your surgury!